Liverpool and Harvey Elliott to Use Transfer Loophole to Bypass FIFA Rule

Liverpool and Harvey Elliott could use a clever transfer loophole to bypass a FIFA law that would prevent him leaving Aston Villa in January.

After six years playing for boyhood club Liverpool, Elliott left on 1 September, joining fellow Premier League side Aston Villa on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy.

The deal, which includes both a sell-on and buy-back clause, will see the Englishman permanently join the Birmingham club at the end of the season for an agreed fee of £35million.

However, since the loan deal was agreed, Elliott has struggled to find regular minutes under Villa boss Unai Emery, leading to reports that both Villa and Liverpool are already considering the midfielder’s future.

And now, a new report has suggested that Liverpool could make use of a smart loophole in FIFA's official rules to ensure that Elliott gets a big transfer in the summer.

Harvey Elliott has struggled for minutes at Aston Villa. Image credit: Getty

Since his arrival at Villa in September, Elliott has made just five appearances for Aston Villa in all competitions, five short of the reported minimum amount he must make to trigger the permanent transfer.

Should they feel that Elliott will not get the necessary appearances at Villa, Liverpool may decide to recall him from the loan to ensure that he gets regular minutes before the end of the season.

However, FIFA rules state that, because he has played for both Liverpool and Villa this season, he could not go on a further loan to another club in the Premier League, or indeed Europe.

Because of this, as reported by BBC Sport, Elliott and Liverpool would need to consider a move to a league such as the American MLS, where the season starts in February.

FIFA's official rules state: "Players may be registered with a maximum of three clubs during one season. During this period, the player is only eligible to play official matches for two clubs, subject to the temporary exceptions below.

Harvey Elliott has been linked with a transfer away from Villa. (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

"As an exception to this rule, a player moving between two clubs belonging to associations with overlapping seasons (i.e. start of the season in summer/autumn as opposed to winter/spring) may be eligible to play in official matches for a third club during the relevant season, provided he has fully complied with his contractual obligations towards his previous clubs.

"Equally, the provisions relating to the registration periods (article 6) as well as to the minimum length of a contract (article 18 paragraph 2) must be respected."

Therefore, FIFA would allow Elliott to make a move to an MLS club in January ahead of the season starting a month later.